Read and Write With Laura Hamby - Recently Updated Pages

The How-To Page

Laura_Hamby — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 22:45:45 CDT

Do you have a question about how to write query letters or how to write a synopsis? Or perhaps formatting has you confused? Concerned about submitting your novel? This page is devoted to providing you links to articles on these, and many more topics that new writers and not-so-new writers should learn about.

Found a nifty site that caused a lightbulb to go on over your head? Link us!

LINKS, LINKS and MORE LINKS!

10 Nitty-Gritty Hints on Being a Professional Writer...in No Particular Order
by
Patrica McLinn

The Heart of Denver Romance Writers
A whole heck of a lot of links to articles on many subjects

Holy Mother Grammatica

The Grammar Slammer

How to Plot a Romance Novel

One-Look Reverse Dictionary

Patricia Kay-- Putting Emotion Into Your Writing

The Romance Factor/Articles on writing romance

Suzanne McMinn-- Many helpful articles, including "The Art of the Blurb"

The Craft of Writing (Narrative elements)

Wikipedia-- Passive Voice

Absolute Write/Several Linkies

Details, Details by Alicia Rasley

Self-Editing Checklist

Writing Tight ― Editing for Impact
©Diana Cosby 2005

Works In Progress

Laura_Hamby — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 14:28:46 CDT

~What are you writing right now? Tell us a little bit about the setting, characters, sub-genre.

~How's it going?
*I'm zooming!
*Anyone seen my Muse lately?
*I'm making good, steady progress.
*I need to brainstorm this with somebody.

~Is this a rough draft, are you doing revisions, currently waiting for my critique
partner to finish criting it, final draft?

~Have you submitted it to a publisher? Inquiring minds want to know, so we can all chew our fingernails down to the last knuckle with you. Need a hurk bucket? It's in the corner. Help yourself. Need some chocolate to steady your raging nerves? There's an endless supply.

** Please don't post excerpts.

Romance Novel Reviews

Laura_Hamby — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 10:24:59 CDT

TELL US ALL ABOUT IT!

Have you read a good romance lately? Share it with us! Just remember, keep the review *G* rated, and no author or book bashing. Rate the book per the scale below, and tell us about the novel, without spoilers, of course. ;-)

RATING SYSTEM

From the highest rating to the lowest

*Keeper* -- Couldn't put it down because I enjoyed it so tremendously--Go Buy it now!

*Recommended* -- Enjoyed it tremendously-- Go buy it now!

*Good Read* -- Worth buying and reading.

Writing Tips

Laura_Hamby — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 10:23:02 CDT

1. Be fresh and innovative.
2. Capture your readers' attention on the first page.
3. Hold your readers' interest throughout the entire novel with a compelling and
believable plot, clearly defined Goals, Motivation and Conflict, and a Hero
and Heroine the reader can identify with, love, and root for.
4. Emotion, emotion, emotion! And when you think you've added enough, add more!
5. Pull in all the 5 senses. It's not enough to touch, just for the sake of touching, it needs to mean something. An aroma is an aroma, but what feelings and emotions does said aroma invoke? Be purposeful in your layering in of details.
6. Chose words with verve. Be vivid, clear and descriptive without relying on the mundane.
7. Be teachable.
8. Voice is the flow of the words, sentences and paragraphs. Voice is how we put words together. Voice is how we bring the story to life.
9. Show the action. Don't tell it. The reader will become much more involved if you draw them into the action, make it real for them. Simply recounting events won't draw in the reader.
10. Be open to constructive criticism.

Home

Laura_Hamby — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 10:08:18 CDT

Welcome to my little corner of the world here. I write romance novels for Moonlit Romance and By Grace Publishing. I also edit for both houses.

I'm adding pages as ideas come to me. Check out the Romance Novels Reviews page, and add a review of your own. The How-To Page will have links for every topic pertinent to the craft of writing imaginable. Works In Progress is a cafe-type place for authors to share their joys and travails and progress with their manuscripts. Writing Tips is exactly that... tips from writers who've learned these things for themselves.

OTHER PLACES TO FIND ME ONLINE

~*~ Laura Hamby, Romance, Passion and Laughter (Website)

*~* Musings of a Chocoholic Romance Novelist (Blog)

~*~ Chocoholic Romance Novelist on Squidoo

*~* My By Grace Novels... On Squidoo

~*~ My Moonlit Romance Novels... On Squidoo

*~* The Moonlit Romance Authors' Blog

~*~ Laura Hamby ~~ Romance, Passion and Laughter: a Spotlight Website

*~* Blue Plate Special: Pops' Girls Continuity Series Website

Novels by Laura Hamby

Laura_Hamby — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 09:56:25 CDT

FROM MOONLIT ROMANCE

It's All Greek to Me

Blue Plate Special: Pops' Girls: Learning to Trust

Time After Time/Pops' Diner anthology

FROM BY GRACE PUBLISHING

Sukie's Dance/Brides and Bouquets 2005 anthology

Haunted/Out of the Shadows anthology

Watercolor Memories

At First Sight/Brides and Bouquets 2006 anthology